Eagle River - You might think once your kid's teachers are hired, they're set, but at least three Northwoods educators are getting big recognition.The Northland Pines teachers earned their National Board Certification. The process can take up to three years. Only fifty percent of applicants receive their certification. High school principal, Jim Brewer, says it is great for the school."The state of Wisconsin recognizes individuals who achieve National Board Certification as the highest level. It puts them at a master educator status," says Brewer.
The process is helpful for teachers in two ways. First, teachers must track students learning. Second, teachers videotape themselves in lectures. Newly certified math teacher John Hayes found the process useful."Especially through the video process, you watch yourself a hundred times on video and you see oh, I can be doing this better or I can be doing this better," said Hayes.The two other teachers that received their certification are kindergarten grade teacher, Kim Lewandowski, and Middle School special education teacher, Faith Schneider. Other teachers are already preparing for next year with good reason to do so."What I've heard from other people that have done that is that it really improves your teaching. It really makes you study what you are doing, why your doing it, how it helps students, how you can help students learn," said Robin Indermuehle, a science teacher applying for next year.Overall, teachers say it is the students that get the benefit of better teachers.